West Montgomery Times

HARRISBURG – Senator Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), joined by fellow women veterans, hosted a Women Veterans Day ceremony at the state Capitol to inaugurate an exhibit celebrating Pennsylvania women who have served both the commonwealth and the nation.

Pennycuick, a U.S. Army combat veteran, authored the legislation establishing June 12 as Women Veterans Day in Pennsylvania. This year marks the second observance of this day in the commonwealth.

“It is an honor to celebrate the many women veterans that are here today and their courage to step up and serve their country when the job options were sometimes limited, in a male-dominated career field that certainly is not for the faint of heart,” said Pennycuick. “We pave the way for future generations to serve this great nation and give something back to a country that has given us so much.”

Brigadier General Maureen Weigl, Deputy Adjutant General of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity were among those participating in Monday’s ceremony.

Historically, women have contributed significantly during times of war. During the Revolutionary War, they followed their husbands into battlefields performing essential tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and tending to wounded soldiers. In the Civil War, hundreds of women from both sides disguised themselves as men to fight.

World War I saw 35,000 women serving in various roles including clerks, truck drivers, radio operators, telephone operators, translators, and munition workers. By World War II, 350,000 women took on roles such as nurses, cryptographers, military intelligence officers, and parachute riggers. More recently over 300,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Women were officially recognized as military members or veterans only after 1948; prior to this recognition only nurses and secretaries received full veteran benefits. Projections indicate that by 2040 women will constitute 17% of the total veteran population.

The event also featured a special exhibit showcasing profiles of women veterans highlighting their military journeys and community impacts. An online exhibit was created featuring biographies of more than 130 women veterans from across Pennsylvania who responded to Pennycuick’s call for submissions.

Additionally, Pennycuick sponsored legislation creating the Task Force on Women Veterans’ Health Care in Pennsylvania aimed at studying unique health care access issues faced by women veterans and making recommendations for action to both the governor and General Assembly.

Video footage of the Women Veterans Day ceremony can be viewed here along with photographs from the event.

CONTACT: Lidia Di Fiore (215) 541-2388